Ila Olive Brandt

Ila Olive Brandt, 95, of Baxter, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, at Accura Healthcare in Baxter. A visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13, 2017 at the Congregational United Church of Christ in Baxter. A funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 14 at the Congregational United Church of Christ in Baxter with Reverend Melissa Sternhagen officiating. Burial will follow in Restland Cemetery in Baxter.

Ila was born to Harry and Anna (Nielson) Kono Dec. 25, 1921, in Fairmount, Minn. She graduated from Colfax High School in 1939. She married James Brandt July 24, 1949, in the home of her parents in Colfax. After marriage they lived in-town Baxter for a short time before moving to the farm where they raised their family. In 1989, they moved back to town and in 2006, she moved to Accura Healthcare. Ila worked at SuperValue and JC Penney while growing up. In 1962, she and James started a company called James Brandt Supply. She also enjoyed selling Stanley Products, greeting cards and raising chickens. She was a member of the UCC church in Baxter and Women’s Fellowship, Jasper County Farm Bureau and ODO Club. Ila enjoyed spending time with her family, photography, company trips, ceramics, embroidering, winters in Arizona, board games and coloring.

Those left to cherish her loving memory are her son, David (Vickie) Brandt of Baxter; son-in-law, John Edwards of Des Moines; grandchildren, Andrew Brandt of Baxter, Angie (Ron) Fleenor of Cambridge and Anna (Shane) Palmer of Huxley; great-grandchildren, Mallory, John, Emma, Gracie, Kaylee and Makenna; sisters, Kay Lewis of Searsboro and Lee Tharp of Newton; and many nieces, nephews and friends. Ila was proceeded in death by her parents; husband, James; two daughters, Sharon Brandt-Edwards and Margaret Brandt; and five siblings, twin brothers Lowell and Leland Kono and sisters, Lois Jean Hill, Arline Foster and Alma Ann Green.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family. Fredregill Family Funeral Home in Baxter, has been entrusted with the care of Ila and her family.